Girls around the world share their thoughts on equality

When women and girls have access to better opportunities – in school, in jobs and in life – entire communities benefit. Gender equality has profound and widespread implications for economic and social development around the world.

To mark International Women’s Day, we wanted to hear from girls and young women in our programs on why equality is important to them, how they #ChooseToChallenge the status quo and what they think is needed to achieve gender equality in their communities. Here’s what they had to say.

“I’ve never seen a female village chief. I want to see a woman become my village chief to show that women have the same capacity as men.”
–Rasmei, 10

Rasmei enjoys reading books at the ChildFund-supported library at her school in Cambodia.

“I want to help people and show girls there’s no job they can’t do.”
—Jane, 22

Jane, a sponsored young woman in Kenya, received a scholarship from ChildFund to attend college. She decided to study electrical installation, a traditionally male career path, because she wanted to help the families in her community have a better quality of life.

“Why should boys have different treatment than girls? It shouldn’t be like that. [Through ChildFund’s programs,] I learned the importance of respectful behavior toward girls.”
—Llelsi, 10

Llelsi and her friends in Guatemala participate in a ChildFund program where they learn about children’s rights and gender equality.

“Women have equal rights to work, and if society denies women that right, they are stopping women from exploring opportunities and exploring themselves.”
—Iin, 22

Iin is a college student and aspiring journalist in Indonesia who learned more about gender equality through a ChildFund workshop supported by the Caterpillar Foundation.

“Girls need to be in school. If we finish school, we’ll know a lot and become responsible citizens.”
—Puja, 14

Puja attends a ChildFund-supported school in India where access to girls’ bathrooms and feminine hygiene products has dramatically improved girls’ attendance – including her own. 

“I would like girls to be treated well, to feel that we all have equal rights.”
—Karol, 10

Karol lives in Honduras. ChildFund’s workshops on gender equality are her favorite part of going to school.